so that it's not just america. it's america is part of a larger nato coalition, which is going to be supportive of success in afghanistan but because it's important that we do succeed in afghanistan. we can't succeed, i believe, without appear significant number of additional combat forces through the other initiatives that i've talked about. and that's what the president need to do is explain why it is that success is important and how we are part of a larger effort in that regard. >> senator, among the anxious people waiting for a decision aren't just republicans, it's the military families and the soldiers themselves who think there may be a surge and they may be de ploying as early as january. so morale wise there is a negative effect of the long process in making a decision here. and it can't come to any surprise from the obama administration that they were going to face an afghanistan decision at some point. is there a time when a decision has to be made on behalf of the morale of the troops? >> i think the t